CN113534548A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

An embodiment provides a display device including: a first substrate; a gate line disposed on the first substrate and extending in a first direction; a storage electrode line extending in a first direction on the same layer as the gate line and including a protrusion partially protruding in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a data line insulated from the gate line and the storage electrode line and extending in a second direction; a drain electrode disposed on the same layer as the data line and including an extension portion overlapping the protrusion; a pixel electrode including a connection portion electrically connected to the extension portion of the drain electrode; and a first spacer disposed on the pixel electrode and partially overlapping the protrusion of the storage electrode line, wherein the first spacer covers an edge of a connection portion of the pixel electrode in the first direction.

Description

Display device

This application claims priority and benefit of korean patent application No. 10-2020-0047918, filed in korean intellectual property office on 21/4/2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal display.

Background

Among display devices, a liquid crystal display is one of widely used flat panel displays and applies a voltage to electrodes (pixel electrodes and common electrodes) disposed on substrates facing each other to control the arrangement of liquid crystals of a liquid crystal layer interposed between the substrates facing each other, thereby controlling the amount of transmitted light.

Meanwhile, recently, most liquid crystal displays have included a touch sensing function capable of interacting with a user in addition to a display function, and a touch sensor may be embedded in the liquid crystal display or attached to a display panel of the liquid crystal display. In the liquid crystal display having the touch sensing function, when a finger of a user or a touch pen touches the display panel, pressure or the like may be applied to the display panel.

When pressure from the outside is applied to the display panel for various reasons as described above, the arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules is disturbed, and even if the pressure is removed, a phenomenon in which brightness unevenness is present (i.e., a bruising phenomenon) occurs since the liquid crystal molecules do not return to their original state to affect the arrangement of the adjacent liquid crystal molecules, which affects display quality.

The above information disclosed in this background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not constitute prior art that is known in that country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Disclosure of Invention

Embodiments will provide a display device in which a bruise phenomenon is improved.

An embodiment provides a display device including: a first substrate; a gate line disposed on the first substrate and extending in a first direction; a storage electrode line extending in a first direction on the same layer as the gate line and including a protrusion partially protruding in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a data line insulated from the gate line and the storage electrode line and extending in a second direction; a drain electrode disposed on the same layer as the data line and including an extension portion overlapping the protrusion; a pixel electrode including a connection portion electrically connected to the extension portion of the drain electrode; and a first spacer disposed on the pixel electrode and partially overlapping the protrusion of the storage electrode line, wherein the first spacer covers an edge of a connection portion of the pixel electrode in the first direction.

The first spacer may include: a first overlap portion overlapping the connection portion of the pixel electrode and the opening through which the extension portion of the drain electrode is connected; and a second overlapping portion overlapping at least a portion of the drain electrode and the gate line.

The first spacer may have a T shape in a plan view.

An edge of the connection portion of the pixel electrode may be covered by the first overlap portion.

The display device may further include: a color filter disposed between the drain electrode and the pixel electrode; and an insulating film disposed on the color filter.

The color filter and the insulating film may include an opening.

The pixel electrode may further include: a cross-shaped trunk portion including a horizontal trunk portion extending in a first direction and a vertical trunk portion extending in a second direction; a thin branch portion extending in a diagonal direction from the cross-shaped trunk portion; and a horizontal bar portion extending from the connection portion.

The width of the connecting portion may be 10 μm or more.

The distance from one end of the vertical trunk portion to the connection portion may be 7 μm or more.

The connection portion and the sub-divided branch portions connected to the connection portion may have a diamond shape including an opening.

Another embodiment provides a display device including a plurality of pixels displaying different colors, wherein the plurality of pixels may include: a gate line disposed on the first substrate and extending in a first direction; a storage electrode line extending in a first direction on the same layer as the gate line and including a protrusion partially protruding in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a data line insulated from the gate line and the storage electrode line and extending in a second direction; a drain electrode disposed on the same layer as the data line and including an extension portion overlapping the protrusion; a pixel electrode including a connection portion electrically connected to the extension portion of the drain electrode; and a first spacer disposed on the pixel electrode and partially overlapping the protrusion of the storage electrode line, wherein the first spacer covers an edge of a connection portion of the pixel electrode in the first direction in at least one of the plurality of pixels.

The plurality of pixels may include: a first pixel displaying red; a second pixel displaying green; and a third pixel displaying blue.

The third pixel may include: and a second spacer having an area smaller than that of the first spacer.

The first and second spacers may overlap the opening through which the connection portion of the pixel electrode and the extension portion of the drain electrode are connected.

The first spacer may include: a first overlap portion overlapping the opening connecting the connection portion of the pixel electrode and the extension portion of the drain electrode; and a second overlapping portion overlapping at least a portion of the drain electrode and the gate line.

The first spacer may have a T-shape.

The second spacer may have a square shape.

The first pixel may include a first color filter, the second pixel may include a second color filter, and the third pixel may include a third color filter, and a thickness of the third color filter may be greater than a thickness of the first color filter and a thickness of the second color filter.

The pixel electrode may further include: a cross-shaped trunk portion including a horizontal trunk portion extending in a first direction and a vertical trunk portion extending in a second direction; a thin branch portion extending in a diagonal direction from the cross-shaped trunk portion; and a horizontal bar portion extending from the connection portion.

The angle between the edge of the connecting portion and the edge of the horizontal bar portion adjacent to the edge of the connecting portion may be 45 °.

According to the embodiments, by positioning the connection portion of the pixel electrode within the side edge of the first spacer, it is possible to maximize the liquid crystal controllability to prevent defects such as a contusion phenomenon.

In addition, according to the embodiment, a display device having improved display quality and reliability may be provided by arranging a different spacer for each pixel region.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a layout diagram of one pixel of a display device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II' of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III' of fig. 1.

Fig. 4 illustrates a pixel electrode, a shielding electrode, and a spacer in the display device of fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the pixel electrode of fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the pixel electrode of fig. 4.

Fig. 7 illustrates a layout of a plurality of pixels of a display device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 8 shows an enlarged view of a portion of the pixel electrode in the display device of fig. 7.

Fig. 9 shows an image of a texture simulation result of one pixel of the display device according to the comparative example and the display device according to the embodiment.

Detailed Description

The inventive concept will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

Parts irrelevant to the description will be omitted to clearly describe the present disclosure, and like reference numerals denote like elements throughout the specification.

Further, in the drawings, the size and thickness of each element are arbitrarily shown for ease of description, and the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to those shown in the drawings. In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc. are exaggerated for clarity. In the drawings, the thickness of some layers and regions are exaggerated for ease of description.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region or substrate is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, there are no intervening elements present. Further, in the specification, the words "on … …" or "above … …" mean disposed on or under the target portion, and do not necessarily mean disposed on the upper side of the target portion based on the direction of gravity.

Additionally, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

Further, throughout the specification, the phrase "in a plan view" or "on a plane" means that the target portion is viewed from the top, and the phrase "in a cross section" or "on a cross section" means that a cross section formed by vertically cutting the target portion is viewed from the side.

Throughout the specification, "connected" means not only when two or more elements are directly connected, but also when two or more elements are indirectly connected through other elements, and when they are physically or electrically connected, and further, it may be referred to by different names according to positions or functions, and may also be referred to as a case where respective parts substantially integrated are linked to each other.

Hereinafter, a display device according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a layout of one pixel of a display device according to an embodiment, fig. 2 illustrates a sectional view taken along a line II-II 'of fig. 1, and fig. 3 illustrates a sectional view taken along a line III-III' of fig. 1.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, the display device according to the embodiment includes first and second display panels 100 and 200 facing each other and a liquid crystal layer 3 disposed therebetween.

First, the first display panel 100 will be described.

The first display panel 100 includes a first substrate 110 and a gate conductor, a semiconductor layer 154, a data conductor, a color filter 230, a pixel electrode 191, and a first spacer 310 stacked thereon.

The gate conductor is disposed on the first substrate 110 formed of transparent glass or plastic. The gate conductor may include a gate line 121 and a storage electrode line 131.

The gate line 121 extends in the first direction DR1 and transmits a gate signal. The gate line 121 includes a pair of sub-gate lines 121a and 121b and a gate electrode 124 disposed parallel to each other.

A pair of sub-gate lines 121a and 121b extend parallel to each other in the first direction DR 1. The gate electrode 124 is disposed between the pair of sub-gate lines 121a and 121b, and the gate electrode 124 may be disposed and connected between the pair of sub-gate lines 121a and 121 b. The pair of sub-gate lines 121a and 121b may transmit the same gate signal.

As such, when one gate line 121 is divided and formed as a pair of sub-gate lines 121a and 121b, even if one sub-gate line 121a is damaged due to a short circuit or the like, the other sub-gate line 121b may transmit a gate signal, which may be advantageous in repairing the display device.

The storage electrode lines 131 extend in the first direction DR1 parallel to the gate lines 121 and transmit a predetermined voltage such as a common voltage. The storage electrode lines 131 are spaced apart from the gate electrodes 124 and the gate lines 121 in a plan view. The storage electrode lines 131 include first storage electrode lines 131a extending in the first direction DR1, second storage electrode lines 131b extending from the first storage electrode lines 131a in the second direction DR2, and protrusions 131c partially protruding from the first storage electrode lines 131a in the second direction DR2 toward the pixel electrodes 191.

The gate conductor may include a metal such as copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), chromium (Cr), or tantalum (Ta), or a metal alloy thereof, and it may be formed in a single layer or a multilayer.

The gate insulating film 140 is disposed on the gate conductor. The gate insulating film 140 may cover the first substrate 110 and the gate conductor. The gate insulating film 140 may include an inorganic insulating material such as silicon oxide or silicon nitride.

A semiconductor layer 154 and an overlying semiconductor layer 155 are disposed on the gate insulating film 140. The semiconductor layer 154 and the stacked semiconductor layer 155 may include a semiconductor material such as an oxide semiconductor, amorphous silicon, or polycrystalline silicon. The semiconductor layer 154 forms an active layer of a transistor TFT to be described later. The plurality of stacked semiconductor layers 155 are disposed in an area where the gate lines 121 and the data lines 171 cross or an area where the storage electrode lines 131 and the data lines 171 cross, so that they may prevent an electrical short between the gate conductive layer and the data conductive layer.

An ohmic contact layer (not shown) may be disposed on the semiconductor layer 154. When the semiconductor layer 154 includes silicon, the ohmic contact layer (not shown) may include silicide or n + hydrogenated amorphous silicon in which n-type impurities such as phosphorus (P) are heavily doped at a high concentration.

A data conductor including a data line 171, a source electrode 173, and a drain electrode 175 is disposed on the semiconductor layer 154, the stacked semiconductor layer 155, and the gate insulating film 140.

The data lines 171 extend in a second direction DR2 perpendicular to the first direction DR1 and transmit data voltages. The data lines 171 are disposed to cross the gate lines 121. The data lines 171 may be configured as two data lines 171 disposed at respective sides of one pixel PX and overlapping the one pixel PX.

The source electrode 173 may extend from the data line 171 and overlap the gate electrode 124, and it may have a substantially U shape.

The drain electrodes 175 are separated from the data lines 171 and from the source electrodes 173. The drain electrode 175 extends toward a central portion of the U-shaped source electrode 173 and includes an extension 177 electrically connected to a pixel electrode 191, which will be described later. The extensions 177 of the drain electrodes 175 may overlap the storage electrode lines 131. Specifically, the drain electrodes 175 may overlap the protrusions 131c of the storage electrode lines 131. The extensions 177 of the drain electrodes 175 overlap the protrusions 131c of the storage electrode lines 131 to form storage capacitors. The storage capacitor may maintain a voltage applied to the drain electrode 175 and the pixel electrode 191 connected to the drain electrode 175 even when the data voltage is not applied to the data line 171.

The data conductor may include a metal such as aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), silver (Ag), gold (Au), platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd), nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W), titanium (Ti), chromium (Cr), tantalum (Ta), or the like, or a metal alloy thereof, and it may be formed of a single layer or a plurality of layers.

One gate electrode 124, one source electrode 173, and one drain electrode 175 form one transistor TFT together with the semiconductor layer 154. A channel of the transistor TFT may be formed in the semiconductor layer 154 between the source electrode 173 and the drain electrode 175.

The color filter 230 is disposed on the data conductor. The color filters 230 may include red, green, and blue color filters. Each of the color filters 230 may be disposed one by one in an area defined by the gate lines 121 and the data lines 171.

An insulating film 180 including an organic insulating material and an inorganic insulating material such as silicon oxide and silicon nitride is disposed on the color filter 230. The insulating film 180 may be an organic film and planarizes an upper surface of the color filter 230. In addition, the insulating film 180 may prevent contaminants in the color filter 230 from diffusing into the liquid crystal layer 3. In some embodiments, the insulating film 180 may be omitted.

The insulating film 180 and the color filter 230 include an opening 185 exposing the extension 177 of the drain electrode 175. The extension 177 of the drain electrode 175 may be physically and electrically connected to the pixel electrode 191 through the opening 185. Accordingly, the data voltage may be applied from the drain electrode 175 to the pixel electrode 191.

The pixel electrode 191 and the shielding electrode 198 are disposed on the insulating film 180. The pixel electrode 191 and the shielding electrode 198 may include a transparent conductor such as ITO or IZO or a metal such as aluminum, silver, chromium, or an alloy thereof.

The pixel electrode 191 includes a cross-shaped trunk portion including a horizontal trunk portion 191a extending in the first direction DR1 and a vertical trunk portion 191b extending in the second direction DR2, sub-divided branch portions 191c extending in diagonal directions from the cross-shaped trunk portion, a connection portion 191d connected to the extension 177 of the drain electrode 175, a horizontal bar portion 191e extending from the connection portion 191d, and an outer portion 191f surrounding the edge of the pixel electrode 191.

The shape of the pixel electrode 191 will be described in detail with reference to fig. 4 to 6 described later.

The shielding electrode 198 extends along the first direction DR1 and is spaced apart from the pixel electrode 191. Specifically, it is spaced apart from the horizontal bar portion 191e of the pixel electrode 191 and the outer portion 191f of the pixel electrode 191. The shielding electrode 198 may be disposed to overlap a portion of the gate line 121. In addition, the shielding electrode 198 may be disposed to overlap one end of the second storage electrode line 131 b. The same voltage as that of the common electrode 270 described later may be applied to the shield electrode 198. Therefore, an electric field is not generated between the shielding electrode 198 and the common electrode 270, and the liquid crystal molecules 31 disposed therebetween can be unaffected by a voltage applied to the conductive layer and maintain the same orientation as its initial alignment. The liquid crystal layer 3 between the shield electrode 198 and the common electrode 270 maintains its orientation to display black, and the liquid crystal molecules 31 themselves may perform the function of the light blocking layer 220.

The first spacer 310 is disposed on the pixel electrode 191. In a plan view, the first spacer 310 includes a first overlap portion 310a partially extending in the first direction DR1 and a second overlap portion 310b partially extending from the first overlap portion 310a in the second direction DR 2. The first overlap portion 310a and the second overlap portion 310b may form a T-shape.

The first overlap portion 310a overlaps at least some of the protrusion 131c of the storage electrode line 131, the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191, the horizontal bar portion 191e of the pixel electrode 191, and the extension 177 of the drain electrode 175. In addition, the first overlap portion 310a completely covers the opening 185 connecting the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 and the extension 177 of the drain electrode 175. That is, the first spacer 310 may be disposed while filling a space recessed by the color filter 230 and the opening 185 of the insulating film 180. In addition, a side edge of the first overlap portion 310a may overlap at least a portion of the data line 171 in a plan view.

The second overlapping portion 310b is disposed to overlap at least some of the gate line 121, the gate electrode 124, the semiconductor layer 154, the source electrode 173, the drain electrode 175, and the shielding electrode 198.

The first spacer 310 may extend to cover at least one edge portion of the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 along the first direction DR 1. At least one edge of the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 is disposed in a side edge of the first spacer 310. That is, the side edge of the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 is disposed within the side edge of the first overlapping portion 310a of the first spacer 310. The first spacer 310 is disposed to cover at least one edge of the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 along the first direction DR1, so that misalignment (misalignment) of liquid crystal due to an uneven surface can be prevented in an area near the opening 185 of the color filter 230 and the insulating film 180. The first spacer 310 may extend to cover both edge portions of the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 along the first direction DR 1.

The height h0 of the first spacer 310 at the portion overlapping the drain electrode 175 may be higher than the height h1 of the first spacer 310 at the portion overlapping the extension 177 of the drain electrode 175 and the pixel electrode 191. A height h1 of the first spacer 310 at a portion overlapping the extension 177 of the drain electrode 175 may be higher than a height h2 of the first spacer 310 from an upper surface of the pixel electrode 191 at the extension 177 of the drain electrode 175 and the opening 185 through which the pixel electrode 191 contacts.

The display device according to the comparative example does not include the first spacer 310. Therefore, in the comparative example, the liquid crystal molecules 31 may be disposed to be inclined in the direction of the opening 185 due to the step of the opening 185 in which the pixel electrode 191 and the drain electrode 175 are connected. Since the direction of the liquid crystal molecules 31 in the region spaced apart from the opening 185 and the direction of the liquid crystal molecules 31 in the vicinity of the opening 185 do not coincide, a bruise phenomenon may occur in the display device.

However, in the display device according to the embodiment, since the first spacer 310 is disposed on the pixel electrode 191, the misalignment of the liquid crystal due to the step caused by the opening 185 may be prevented. That is, by improving the texture controllability of the liquid crystal, the bruise phenomenon of the display device can be improved.

Hereinafter, the second display panel 200 will be described. The second display panel 200 may include a second substrate 210 facing the first substrate 110, a light blocking layer 220 stacked on the second substrate 210, an overcoat layer 250, and a common electrode 270. The overcoat layer 250 may be omitted according to an embodiment, and an alignment film may be disposed on the common electrode 270.

The light blocking layer 220 is disposed on the second substrate 210 formed of transparent glass or plastic. The light blocking layer 220 has an opening in a region overlapping the pixel electrode 191 of the first display panel 100. The light blocking layer 220 is disposed to overlap the data lines 171, the gate lines 121, the transistors TFT, and the like, and is disposed so as not to overlap most of the pixel electrodes 191. The finger layer disposed on the second substrate 210 is disposed in the same direction as the light blocking layer 220 with respect to the second substrate 210. When the stacking order is viewed from the outside direction of the second display panel 200, the light blocking layer 220 may be considered to be disposed under the second substrate 210.

The common electrode 270 is disposed on the second substrate 210 to cover all the pixels PX to receive a common voltage.

The liquid crystal layer 3 includes a plurality of liquid crystal molecules 31. The liquid crystal molecules 31 have negative dielectric anisotropy, and the liquid crystal molecules 31 of the liquid crystal layer 3 may be aligned such that the long axes thereof are perpendicular to the surfaces of the first and second display panels 100 and 200 in a state where there is no electric field. The pixel electrode 191, to which the data voltage is applied, generates an electric field together with the common electrode 270 of the second display panel 200 to determine the direction of the liquid crystal molecules 31 of the liquid crystal layer 3 between the two electrodes 191 and 270. The brightness of light passing through the liquid crystal layer 3 may vary according to the direction of the liquid crystal molecules 31 determined as described above.

Hereinafter, the pixel electrode 191, the first spacer 310, and the like will be described in detail with reference to fig. 4 to 6.

Fig. 4 illustrates a pixel electrode, a shielding electrode, and a first spacer in the display device of fig. 1. Fig. 5 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the pixel electrode of fig. 4, and fig. 6 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the pixel electrode of fig. 4. Here, a portion may refer to the "X" region of fig. 4.

Referring to fig. 4 to 6, the pixel electrode 191 includes a cross-shaped trunk portion including a horizontal trunk portion 191a extending in the first direction DR1 and a vertical trunk portion 191b extending in the second direction DR2, sub-divided branch portions 191c extending in diagonal directions from the cross-shaped trunk portion, a connection portion 191d connected to the extension portion 177 of the drain electrode 175, a horizontal bar portion 191e extending from the connection portion 191d, and an outer portion 191f surrounding the edge of the pixel electrode 191.

Most of the thin branch portion 191c may be connected to the outer portion 191 f. A part of the thin branch portion 191c may not be connected to the outer portion 191 f. The connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 may be connected to the sub-divided branch portion 191c extending from the vertical trunk portion 191 b. In addition, the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 may extend from the fine-divided branch portion 191 c. The connection portion 191d and the plurality of fine branch portions 191c connected to the connection portion 191d may have a diamond shape including an opening.

The horizontal bar portion 191e may extend in the first direction DR1, and an edge of the horizontal bar portion 191e may coincide with an edge of the outer portion 191 f.

The first spacer 310 is disposed to overlap at least a portion of the connection portion 191d and the horizontal bar portion 191e of the pixel electrode 191. In addition, the first spacer 310 may be disposed to overlap at least a portion of the shielding electrode 198.

A side edge ed1 of the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 is disposed inside a side edge ed2 of the first spacer 310 in the first direction DR 1. That is, the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 is disposed within the first spacer 310 in the first direction DR1, and the first spacer 310 is disposed to cover at least one edge of the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191, so that it is possible to prevent misalignment of liquid crystal due to a step in the region near the opening 185 of the color filter 230 and the insulating film 180. The first spacer 310 is disposed to cover both edges of the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 in the first direction DR 1.

Referring to fig. 5, the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 may have a width w of 10 μm or more. When the connecting portion 191d has a width w of 10 μm or more, the width w of the connecting portion 191d extending from the sub-divided branch portion 191c on the left of the vertical trunk portion 191b and the connecting portion 191d extending from the sub-divided branch portion 191c on the right of the vertical trunk portion 191b may be the same or different. Accordingly, cracks of the pixel electrode 191 may be prevented in the display device according to the embodiment.

Referring to fig. 6, the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 is spaced apart from the vertical trunk portion 191 b. In the second direction DR2, a distance d from one end of the vertical trunk portion 191b to the connection portion 191d may be 7 μm or more. In addition, in the first direction DR1, a distance d from a side end of the vertical trunk portion 191b to the connection portion 191d may be 7 μm or more. In the embodiment, the distance d between the vertical trunk portion 191b and the connection portion 191d is maintained at least 7 μm, thereby stably controlling the alignment of the liquid crystal. Therefore, the display device according to the embodiment can improve the contusion phenomenon and improve the display quality.

Hereinafter, a display device including a plurality of pixels will be described with reference to fig. 7 and 8.

Fig. 7 illustrates a layout of a plurality of pixels of a display device according to an embodiment, and fig. 8 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of a pixel electrode in the display device of fig. 7. Here, a portion may refer to a "Y" portion of fig. 7.

Referring to fig. 7, the display device according to the embodiment includes a first pixel PX1, a second pixel PX2, and a third pixel PX3 adjacent to each other in a first direction DR 1. Each of the pixels PX1, PX2, and PX3 includes a gate line 121, a data line 171 intersecting the gate line 121, a transistor TFT connected to the gate line 121 and the data line 171, and a first spacer 310 and a second spacer 320. Here, the first pixel PX1 may be a pixel displaying red or green, the second pixel PX2 may be a pixel displaying red or green that is not displayed by the first pixel, and the third pixel PX3 may be a pixel displaying blue.

The first pixel PX1 and the second pixel PX2 illustrated in fig. 7 may correspond to one pixel of the display device described with reference to fig. 1 to 6. Since the third pixel PX3 is mostly the same as the first pixel PX1 and the second pixel PX2, hereinafter, differences between the first pixel PX1 and the second pixel PX2 and the third pixel PX3 will be mainly described.

The second spacer 320 is disposed on the pixel electrode 191. The second spacer 320 may have a square shape in which the lengths of the horizontal side and the vertical side are the same in a plan view. The planar area of the second spacer 320 may be smaller than that of the first spacer 310. In some embodiments, the second spacer 320 may have a rectangular shape in which lengths of the horizontal side and the vertical side are different, and may be implemented to have various shapes such as a circle or a polygon.

The second spacers 320 overlap at least a portion of the storage electrode lines 131, the pixel electrodes 191, and the drain electrodes 175. In addition, the second spacer 320 overlaps the opening 185 connecting the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 and the extension 177 of the drain electrode 175. That is, in a cross-sectional view, the second spacer 320 may be provided while filling a space recessed by the color filter 230 and the opening 185 of the insulating film 180.

Referring to fig. 8, the second spacer 320 is disposed to overlap at least a portion of the connection portion 191d and the horizontal bar portion 191e of the pixel electrode 191. An angle between an edge of the connection portion 191d of the pixel electrode 191 and an edge of the horizontal bar portion 191e adjacent thereto may be 45 °.

The thickness of the third color filter 230 included in the third pixel PX3 may be greater than the thickness of the first color filter 230 included in the first pixel PX1 and the thickness of the second color filter 230 included in the second pixel PX 2. When the second spacer 320 includes an overlapping portion wider than the first spacer 310, the height of the second spacer 320 may be excessively high, thereby increasing the misalignment of the liquid crystal. In contrast, in the display device according to the embodiment, the third pixel PX3 includes the second spacer 320 having a smaller overlapping portion than that of the first pixel PX1 and the second pixel PX2, thereby improving the controllability of the liquid crystal arrangement.

Hereinafter, an effect of improving the control of the liquid crystal arrangement of the display device according to the embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 9.

Fig. 9 shows an image of a texture simulation result of one pixel of the display device according to the comparative example and the display device according to the embodiment.

Referring to fig. 9, one pixel PX according to an embodiment may include a cross-shaped trunk portion including a horizontal trunk portion 191a and a vertical trunk portion 191b, and sub-divided branch portions 191c extending outward from the cross-shaped trunk portion. The one pixel PX shown in fig. 9 may be one of the first pixel PX1, the second pixel PX2, and the third pixel PX3 described above.

Shown at the left side in fig. 9 is a view showing a texture simulation result when one pixel PX does not include a spacer. The spacer may be the first spacer 310 or the second spacer 320 described above.

In the pixel PX shown in (a) in fig. 9, a defect occurs in the liquid crystal arrangement due to the step caused by the opening 185 in which the pixel electrode 191 and the drain electrode 175 are connected, so that a dark portion is formed in the region of the finely divided branch portion 191c of the pixel electrode 191. Since a dark portion may be formed in the area where the opening of the thin branch portion 191c is disposed, a texture defect in which a bruise phenomenon is observed may occur.

Shown at the right side in fig. 9 is a view showing a texture simulation result when one pixel PX includes a spacer. The spacer may be the first spacer 310 or the second spacer 320.

In the pixel PX of (b) in fig. 9, the misalignment of the liquid crystal is prevented by the spacer eliminating the step due to the opening, so that the dark portion is formed only in the cross-shaped trunk portion of the pixel electrode 191. Since the dark portion is formed only in the cross-shaped trunk portion, it can be confirmed that the contusion phenomenon in the finely divided branch portions 191c can be prevented, thereby normally displaying an image.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, are intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A display device, the display device comprising:

a first substrate;

a gate line disposed on the first substrate and extending in a first direction;

a storage electrode line extending in the first direction on the same layer as the gate line and including a protrusion partially protruding in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

a data line insulated from the gate line and the storage electrode line and extending in the second direction;

a drain electrode disposed on the same layer as the data line and including an extension portion overlapping the protrusion;

a pixel electrode including a connection portion electrically connected to the extension portion of the drain electrode; and

a first spacer disposed on the pixel electrode and partially overlapping the protrusion of the storage electrode line,

wherein the first spacer covers an edge of the connection portion of the pixel electrode in the first direction.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first spacer includes: a first overlap portion overlapping the opening through which the connection portion of the pixel electrode and the extension portion of the drain electrode are connected; and a second overlapping portion overlapping with at least a portion of the drain electrode and the gate line.

3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the first spacer has a T shape in a plan view, and

wherein the edge of the connection portion of the pixel electrode is covered by the first overlap portion.

4. The display device according to claim 2, further comprising: a color filter disposed between the drain electrode and the pixel electrode; and an insulating film disposed on the color filter,

wherein the color filter and the insulating film include the opening.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the pixel electrode further comprises:

a cross-shaped trunk portion including a horizontal trunk portion extending in the first direction and a vertical trunk portion extending in the second direction;

a thin branch portion extending in a diagonal direction from the cross-shaped trunk portion; and

a horizontal bar portion extending from the connection portion,

wherein the width of the connecting portion is 10 μm or more, or the distance from one end of the vertical trunk portion to the connecting portion is 7 μm or more, and

wherein the connection portion and the thin branch portion connected to the connection portion have a diamond shape including an opening.

6. A display device, the display device comprising:

a plurality of pixels, displaying different colors,

wherein the plurality of pixels include:

a gate line disposed on the first substrate and extending in a first direction;

a storage electrode line extending in the first direction on the same layer as the gate line and including a protrusion partially protruding in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;

a data line insulated from the gate line and the storage electrode line and extending in the second direction;

a drain electrode disposed on the same layer as the data line and including an extension portion overlapping the protrusion;

a pixel electrode including a connection portion electrically connected to the extension portion of the drain electrode; and

a first spacer disposed on the pixel electrode and partially overlapping the protrusion of the storage electrode line, and

wherein, in at least one of the plurality of pixels, the first spacer covers an edge of the connection portion of the pixel electrode in the first direction.

7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of pixels include: a first pixel displaying red; a second pixel displaying green; and a third pixel displaying blue.

8. The display device according to claim 7, wherein the third pixel comprises: a second spacer having an area smaller than that of the first spacer,

wherein the first spacer and the second spacer overlap the opening through which the connection portion of the pixel electrode and the extension portion of the drain electrode are connected,

wherein the first spacer includes: a first overlap portion overlapping the opening connecting the connection portion of the pixel electrode and the extension portion of the drain electrode; and a second overlapping portion overlapping with at least a portion of the drain electrode and the gate line, and

wherein the first spacer has a T-shape.

9. The display device according to claim 7, wherein the first pixel includes a first color filter, the second pixel includes a second color filter, and the third pixel includes a third color filter, and a thickness of the third color filter is larger than a thickness of the first color filter and a thickness of the second color filter.

10. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the pixel electrode further comprises:

a cross-shaped trunk portion including a horizontal trunk portion extending in the first direction and a vertical trunk portion extending in the second direction;

a thin branch portion extending in a diagonal direction from the cross-shaped trunk portion; and

a horizontal bar portion extending from the connection portion,

wherein an angle between an edge of the connecting portion and an edge of the horizontal bar portion adjacent to the edge of the connecting portion is 45 °.

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